Horizontal Wrapping Ring Support to Reduce Wear and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal wrapping machines suffer from quick wear of supporting rollers due to play between lateral shoulders and the rotating ring, leading to plastic residue generation, vibrations, oscillations, and frequent maintenance needs, with complex and expensive structures.
Innovation Solution
The wrapping machine employs supporting wheels with semi-circular guide grooves and central annular channels to engage the rotating ring, using plastic material with low friction and adjustable positioning to reduce wear and vibrations, and a flexible element for precise rotation without axial play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If supporting rollers with lateral shoulders are used to radially and axially support the rotating ring, then the rotating ring is constrained, but the rollers wear quickly due to play between shoulders and ring edge
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting rollers are replaced with supporting wheels featuring a guide groove with semi-circular cross-section that receives the peripheral edge of the rotating ring. This curved geometric interface eliminates the play between lateral shoulders and ring edge, preventing quick wear and plastic residue generation while maintaining radial and axial constraint stability.
2Reliability
If supporting rollers with lateral shoulders are used, then the rotating ring is constrained, but vibrations and oscillations occur due to wear-induced play
Solution Approach 1:
The semi-circular guide groove geometry provides continuous contact with the rotating ring's peripheral edge, eliminating gaps and play that cause vibrations. The curved interface ensures smooth operation without oscillations while maintaining reliable constraint.
3Reliability
If a first set of rollers and a second set of rollers are used to support the rotating ring radially and axially, then support is provided, but the structure becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is designed with a semi-circular cross-section that simultaneously provides both radial support (through the curved bottom surface) and axial support (through the vertical side walls) for the rotating ring. This single integrated structure replaces the need for separate radial and axial roller sets, simplifying the overall support structure while maintaining stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design minimizes wear and residue generation, reduces vibrations and oscillations, and requires infrequent maintenance, ensuring smooth and precise film wrapping operations.
Implementation Method 1
The supporting wheels are made of plastic material with low friction and adjustable positioning to reduce wear and vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A wrapping machine for wrapping a film around a product includes a supporting frame, a rotating ring rotatably supported by the supporting frame, supporting wheels fixed to the supporting frame to rotatably support the rotating ring, an unwinding unit fixed to the rotating ring, and a drive system to rotate the rotating ring and having a flexible element wrapped around the external peripheral edge of the rotating ring. The external peripheral edge of the rotating ring has first and second annular portions. Each supporting wheel has an annular guide groove to receive and engage the first annular portion. The second annular portion is provided with an annular seat suitable to receive the flexible element and having a second external diameter smaller than a first external diameter of the first annular portion.